Merrie Meet
This is a repost from the Pagan Magic website that I found while updating my BOS tonight. Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful festival this weekend.
Lammas or Lughnasadh
Colours: Gray, green, gold, yellow
Symbols: All grains, breads, threshing tools, athame
Date: Occurs 1/4 of a year after Beltaine. True astrological point is 15 degrees Leo, but tradition has set August 1st as the day it is typically celebrated. Since the Ancients Celts passed their days from sundown to sundown, the celebration would usually begin the night before on July 31st.
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The turning of the wheel now brings us to Lughnasadh (LOO-nus-uh), also known by its medieval Christian name of Lammas, named in honor of the Celtic god Lugh, a name which means "light" or "shining." Although somewhat confusing, we are not celebrating the death of Lugh (the God of light does not mythically die until the autumn equinox), but rather the funeral games that Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster mother, Taillte. In Ireland, Lugnasadh is often called the "Tailltean Games". A common feature of the games were the "Tailltean marriages", rather informal and lasting only a year and a day or until next Lammas, at which time the couple would decide to continue the arrangement or stand back to back and walk away, thereby dissolving the marriage. The parish priest was not bothered to perform these trial marriages, they were usually performed by a poet, bard, priest or priestess of the Old Religion, or shanachie, and were very common into the 1500's. It is from this custom that our present-day Handfastings must come.
According to one of his many legends, Lugh was the last great leader of the Tuatha de Dannan. In one of the Tuatha's victories, Lugh spared the life of Bres, a defeated enemy captain, in exchange for advice on ploughing, sowing, and reaping. He was seen as a multi-talented deity, being capable and quite good at all he undertook. The myths of Lugh include the prevalence of his many skills and the wedding of these skills to the potential or unrealized abundance of the land. According to the writing of Caesar, he was also regarded as the patron of all the arts, traveling, and influence in money and commerce. To the Romans, Lugh was seen as a counterpart to Mercury. Lugh is the son of Arianrhod, who is associated with sacred kingship and Three-fold Death. His wife's name is Blodeuwedd, also known as the Flower Maiden.
Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvest Sabbats, Mabon and Samhain being the other two, which celebrates the ripening grains and corn. With the harvest so prevalent, Pagans see the theme of the sacrificed god motif emerge. His death is necessary for rebirth of the land to take place. Called by many names, "Green Man," "Wicker Man," "Corn Man" or just the "Spirit of Vegetation," his essence begins to merge with the harvested crops, a sacrifice that will be realized with the new growth in the spring.
In old times, it was the duty of the King to sacrifice himself for the land, an idea that has been seen in the many legends of cultures both new and old, throughout recorded history. The gathering of the first crops of the year is also used to symbolize the success and extent of the power raised from the Beltane rites when the Sacred Marriage of the Lord and Lady took place. The theme of sexuality and reproduction is carried over into Lughnasadh as well to ensure the remainder of a good harvest.
This sabbat is also known as the celebration of bread. As bread was one of the main staples of our ancestors, the ripening of the grain was the cause for great celebration. The reaping, threshing and preparation of these breads spawned great ritual and ceremony to ensure bounty for the following year.
This time of the year finds us with fields to harvest, the first of a bountiful crop that will hold us through the winter months. Even though the hottest days of summer are upon us, we have but to observe to see that fall is just around the corner. Shadows are growing longer as the days slowly become shorter. Squirrels are busily gathering food for the coming winter. It is a time to begin canning produce from the garden, a time to save and preserve.
Some ideas for celebration include:
Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols of them into the sabbat fire.
Bake a loaf of bread in the shape of a man and sacrifice him in your ritual. Make him a part of your feast but save a piece to offer the gods.
Take time to actually harvest fruits from your garden with your family. If you don't have a garden, visit one of the pick-your-own farms in your area.
Include bilberries or blueberries in your feast; these were a traditional fruit, whose abundance was seen as an indicator of the harvest to come.
Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year.
Share your harvest with others who are less fortunate.
Decorate with sickles, scythes, fresh vegetables & fruits, grains, berries, corn dollies, bread. Colors are orange, gold, yellow, red and bronze.
And so the wheel turns.....
Found and Posted By Witch of the North.
Blessed be to you all...
reproduced from the Pagan_Magic Website
I hope you found this article enlightening.
Love and Light to All
Blessed Be.
Thursday 30 July 2009
Wednesday 29 July 2009
New website live
Have just launched the new website for Changing Times, the new business venture that Alison, Tina and I have begun.....
http://www.changingtimes2.co.uk
Blessed Be
http://www.changingtimes2.co.uk
Blessed Be
Tuesday 28 July 2009
Tuesday 28th July Musing - What Is Wicca?
Merrie Meet
While trawling about looking for a topic for this week's blog post I came across this post that seemed to provide a very detailed yet simple introduction to Wicca. Again I must stress that this article is a repost and is used to help illustrate and educate. The discussions and ideas put forward in this article do not necessarily reflect my own ideas and beliefs. Enjoy.
What is Wicca? A Basic introduction
By: Keitha (FireWind)
Posted: November 23rd, 2001
Wicca is a much misunderstood spirituality that can be explained and described in more ways than can be imagined. Ask a hundred people what Wicca is, and you will likely get a hundred very different answers. This is because Wicca is a personal spirituality, a journey that an individual undertakes in one of a thousand different ways. It is unique to each and every individual that walks the path. While this is one of Wicca's greatest strengths, it also makes it very hard to describe what Wicca is in any kind of specific detail. In this article, I've attempted to explain the more generally accepted beliefs and practices of modern Wicca. My hope is that those with little experience dealing with Wiccans might better understand what it is that we 'do'.
Wicca is a type of Neopagan Witchcraft. That is to say, we generally practice a reconstructed version of pre-Christian European Pagan spirituality. Beliefs and practices are generally centered around a culture of the practitioners choosing, usually with a belief in that culture's deities and folklore, etc. However, since Wicca is a personal spirituality, this does not hold true for everyone. Many practitioners choose beliefs on the basis of what 'feels right', and you will find those who practice a mix of Celtic, Greek, Native, Sumerian, Hindu, Buddhist, and other beliefs. Wiccans have a high regard for the beliefs and practices of others, and for the individuals right to find their own path. As such, almost any combination of beliefs and practices is possible.
Being a Pagan spirituality, Wicca reveres the natural world. The Earth, the seasons, the tides, the moon and stars: all things are sacred. All life, all plants, animals, and peoples are sacred. I am sacred, and so are you, regardless of our similar or differing personal beliefs. We build no physical "churches" except when it is necessary. Our sacred places are outside, in the forests, in the fields, in our hearts.
Wiccans generally believe in both male and female aspects of divinity. Usually, both goddesses and gods are respected as equals, with neither aspect seen as "more important" than the other. While Wiccans can worship many gods at any given time, sometimes a general "Divine Feminine" is referred to as "The Goddess", and a "Divine Masculine" as "The God". The Goddess is generally seen as the shaper, the mother or wise one. It is She who brings forth life and shapes the world. The God is generally seen as the giver, of energy and life. He is the Horned One, the God of the forests, the grain, and the hunt. It is he that sometimes gives the spark to the Goddess that she may create and form life. The idea of The Goddess or The God is not an exclusive title or belief however, and the individual is free to worship whatever gods and goddesses they please.
We have only one law that governs ethics and morality: "An it harm none, do as ye will". We believe that all things are interconnected, and our thoughts and actions echo through the world in ways we might never have imagined. As such, all things we do are returned to us threefold- if we do ill, we are returned ill three times. If we do well, we are returned this also three times. And so our destiny is in our own hands, we must shape it as best we can. We are free to do whatever we like, but be careful of causing harm even unintentionally.
Our services are called rituals, and we honour the gods and the Old ways. We sing, we dance, we call our gods and celebrate life. It is hard to describe what happens at an average ritual, because almost every single one will be different from every other ritual. Everyone has their own idea of what a ritual should be, and everyone does theirs a little differently. Generally, we burn candles and incense, we talk with our gods, we look within ourselves, we try to understand the world around us, and we try to become better people.
There are some things that we do not do, however, and it's a shame that I have to cover them in this article. Because we claim the name 'Witch', there are some strange misconceptions about us. Following are some of the common ones.
Our gods are sometimes horned. They can be very sensual and sexual. Some of them die and some of them rule the Underworld. But none of our gods are the Christian devil. Our horned gods are the ancient fertility gods; they can be both the hunter and the stag. They are the power and joy of life itself. They are forces beyond time. They are not vengeful or rebellious children engaged in family feuding, and they care nothing for such things. Our gods are recorded on the walls of ancient caves; they are complete within themselves. Those that label them devils are misguided or confused. We are not satanists; we are Wiccans.
We are also frequently accused of performing sacrifices which take life. This is also untrue. We do make offerings of food, wine and flowers from time to time, but nothing much more than these. The closest we get to sacrifices is the pig that roasts for dinner, for those of us who eat meat.
Finally, we are sometimes accused of trying to "recruit" people into Wicca. This accusation is so groundless that I don't understand why it is still floating around. We believe that everyone has the right to choose their own path. We believe that no-one can tell another individual what is 'right' for them. We believe in the fundamental right to believe in whatever we choose. And we believe in your right to choose differently. Trying to force others to become Wiccan goes against everything that we are. There are few things that you can say is true for 'all Wiccans', but this I think is one of them. It is the acceptance of differences that makes a true community.
Wicca is a 'mystery religion', as opposed to a 'revealed religion'. This means that we have no holy books, no prophets, no holy people. There is no-one that can tell us the answers that we seek. There is no book that will explain what we don't understand. We believe that the answers are hidden within ourselves; we must work to search ourselves for our answers. No-one else can do it for us.
We cast spells, and we do magick. But we don't harm or manipulate others lives. If we were to do so, the law of three would return whatever we had done. I am frequently asked for 'Love Spells' to make someone fall in love with the asker, and I adamantly refuse. This isn't love. This is extraordinary disrespect for the person you are trying to manipulate. A spell is like a prayer: it is communication, and sometimes a request, we make of our gods. Frequently we will work for healing, self improvements, inner strength, or help with skills like self honesty. We pray to our gods for the same reasons that members of other religions pray to their gods or God.
Is Wicca a "white light" spirituality? No, I would say not, although some may disagree with me. We generally believe in balance in all things. Simply taking the "happy" parts of life and assigning it a spiritual meaning is only half a spirituality. Walking the Wiccan way involves a great deal of introspection and self discovery. And you won't always like what you find. But there are lessons in the hardships in life; there are valuable things to be learned. While we may not actively seek out difficult life lessons, they do tend to find us regardless. This is a part of being a human being. If something bad happens, it is because it was meant to happen. There are things we need to learn, and even the painful things have meaning. In embracing the dark and painful parts of life as well, I believe that we, as well as many other major religions, are not "white light" spiritual paths.
All these things we are; and yet I would like to say one more thing. To members of other religions: we are not your enemy. I truly want to make this clear. We respect the individual's right to believe in what they will. We believe in other's rights to believe differently from ourselves. If sometimes we seem to be at odds with other spiritual paths, it is simply because we feel we are not being treated with the same respect. But we'd probably much rather sit down and chat over tea than be at odds with anyone.
Being such a varied and individual spiritual path, there is much more information I could go into. But I hope that this helps to explain some of the basics of "what Wicca is". As I mentioned before, not everything holds true for everyone, but this is the general basics of what it is we do and believe. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit my "Questions from the Community" section, and perhaps ask your own question.
Copyright Info: All articles by Keitha may be copied, posted, printed, distributed, reprinted, and linked to as long as the text is not changed, money is not earned, full credit is given to Keitha at www.glasstemple.com, and this notice is attached.
For all other uses, please contact me
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 2005 2006 Keitha.
All Other Rights Reserved.
Go forth in Peace and Love
Love, Light and Blessed Be
The Merlin
While trawling about looking for a topic for this week's blog post I came across this post that seemed to provide a very detailed yet simple introduction to Wicca. Again I must stress that this article is a repost and is used to help illustrate and educate. The discussions and ideas put forward in this article do not necessarily reflect my own ideas and beliefs. Enjoy.
What is Wicca? A Basic introduction
By: Keitha (FireWind)
Posted: November 23rd, 2001
Wicca is a much misunderstood spirituality that can be explained and described in more ways than can be imagined. Ask a hundred people what Wicca is, and you will likely get a hundred very different answers. This is because Wicca is a personal spirituality, a journey that an individual undertakes in one of a thousand different ways. It is unique to each and every individual that walks the path. While this is one of Wicca's greatest strengths, it also makes it very hard to describe what Wicca is in any kind of specific detail. In this article, I've attempted to explain the more generally accepted beliefs and practices of modern Wicca. My hope is that those with little experience dealing with Wiccans might better understand what it is that we 'do'.
Wicca is a type of Neopagan Witchcraft. That is to say, we generally practice a reconstructed version of pre-Christian European Pagan spirituality. Beliefs and practices are generally centered around a culture of the practitioners choosing, usually with a belief in that culture's deities and folklore, etc. However, since Wicca is a personal spirituality, this does not hold true for everyone. Many practitioners choose beliefs on the basis of what 'feels right', and you will find those who practice a mix of Celtic, Greek, Native, Sumerian, Hindu, Buddhist, and other beliefs. Wiccans have a high regard for the beliefs and practices of others, and for the individuals right to find their own path. As such, almost any combination of beliefs and practices is possible.
Being a Pagan spirituality, Wicca reveres the natural world. The Earth, the seasons, the tides, the moon and stars: all things are sacred. All life, all plants, animals, and peoples are sacred. I am sacred, and so are you, regardless of our similar or differing personal beliefs. We build no physical "churches" except when it is necessary. Our sacred places are outside, in the forests, in the fields, in our hearts.
Wiccans generally believe in both male and female aspects of divinity. Usually, both goddesses and gods are respected as equals, with neither aspect seen as "more important" than the other. While Wiccans can worship many gods at any given time, sometimes a general "Divine Feminine" is referred to as "The Goddess", and a "Divine Masculine" as "The God". The Goddess is generally seen as the shaper, the mother or wise one. It is She who brings forth life and shapes the world. The God is generally seen as the giver, of energy and life. He is the Horned One, the God of the forests, the grain, and the hunt. It is he that sometimes gives the spark to the Goddess that she may create and form life. The idea of The Goddess or The God is not an exclusive title or belief however, and the individual is free to worship whatever gods and goddesses they please.
We have only one law that governs ethics and morality: "An it harm none, do as ye will". We believe that all things are interconnected, and our thoughts and actions echo through the world in ways we might never have imagined. As such, all things we do are returned to us threefold- if we do ill, we are returned ill three times. If we do well, we are returned this also three times. And so our destiny is in our own hands, we must shape it as best we can. We are free to do whatever we like, but be careful of causing harm even unintentionally.
Our services are called rituals, and we honour the gods and the Old ways. We sing, we dance, we call our gods and celebrate life. It is hard to describe what happens at an average ritual, because almost every single one will be different from every other ritual. Everyone has their own idea of what a ritual should be, and everyone does theirs a little differently. Generally, we burn candles and incense, we talk with our gods, we look within ourselves, we try to understand the world around us, and we try to become better people.
There are some things that we do not do, however, and it's a shame that I have to cover them in this article. Because we claim the name 'Witch', there are some strange misconceptions about us. Following are some of the common ones.
Our gods are sometimes horned. They can be very sensual and sexual. Some of them die and some of them rule the Underworld. But none of our gods are the Christian devil. Our horned gods are the ancient fertility gods; they can be both the hunter and the stag. They are the power and joy of life itself. They are forces beyond time. They are not vengeful or rebellious children engaged in family feuding, and they care nothing for such things. Our gods are recorded on the walls of ancient caves; they are complete within themselves. Those that label them devils are misguided or confused. We are not satanists; we are Wiccans.
We are also frequently accused of performing sacrifices which take life. This is also untrue. We do make offerings of food, wine and flowers from time to time, but nothing much more than these. The closest we get to sacrifices is the pig that roasts for dinner, for those of us who eat meat.
Finally, we are sometimes accused of trying to "recruit" people into Wicca. This accusation is so groundless that I don't understand why it is still floating around. We believe that everyone has the right to choose their own path. We believe that no-one can tell another individual what is 'right' for them. We believe in the fundamental right to believe in whatever we choose. And we believe in your right to choose differently. Trying to force others to become Wiccan goes against everything that we are. There are few things that you can say is true for 'all Wiccans', but this I think is one of them. It is the acceptance of differences that makes a true community.
Wicca is a 'mystery religion', as opposed to a 'revealed religion'. This means that we have no holy books, no prophets, no holy people. There is no-one that can tell us the answers that we seek. There is no book that will explain what we don't understand. We believe that the answers are hidden within ourselves; we must work to search ourselves for our answers. No-one else can do it for us.
We cast spells, and we do magick. But we don't harm or manipulate others lives. If we were to do so, the law of three would return whatever we had done. I am frequently asked for 'Love Spells' to make someone fall in love with the asker, and I adamantly refuse. This isn't love. This is extraordinary disrespect for the person you are trying to manipulate. A spell is like a prayer: it is communication, and sometimes a request, we make of our gods. Frequently we will work for healing, self improvements, inner strength, or help with skills like self honesty. We pray to our gods for the same reasons that members of other religions pray to their gods or God.
Is Wicca a "white light" spirituality? No, I would say not, although some may disagree with me. We generally believe in balance in all things. Simply taking the "happy" parts of life and assigning it a spiritual meaning is only half a spirituality. Walking the Wiccan way involves a great deal of introspection and self discovery. And you won't always like what you find. But there are lessons in the hardships in life; there are valuable things to be learned. While we may not actively seek out difficult life lessons, they do tend to find us regardless. This is a part of being a human being. If something bad happens, it is because it was meant to happen. There are things we need to learn, and even the painful things have meaning. In embracing the dark and painful parts of life as well, I believe that we, as well as many other major religions, are not "white light" spiritual paths.
All these things we are; and yet I would like to say one more thing. To members of other religions: we are not your enemy. I truly want to make this clear. We respect the individual's right to believe in what they will. We believe in other's rights to believe differently from ourselves. If sometimes we seem to be at odds with other spiritual paths, it is simply because we feel we are not being treated with the same respect. But we'd probably much rather sit down and chat over tea than be at odds with anyone.
Being such a varied and individual spiritual path, there is much more information I could go into. But I hope that this helps to explain some of the basics of "what Wicca is". As I mentioned before, not everything holds true for everyone, but this is the general basics of what it is we do and believe. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit my "Questions from the Community" section, and perhaps ask your own question.
Copyright Info: All articles by Keitha may be copied, posted, printed, distributed, reprinted, and linked to as long as the text is not changed, money is not earned, full credit is given to Keitha at www.glasstemple.com, and this notice is attached.
For all other uses, please contact me
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 2005 2006 Keitha.
All Other Rights Reserved.
Go forth in Peace and Love
Love, Light and Blessed Be
The Merlin
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Wednesday 22nd July Musing - The Hedge Witch
Merrie Meet
As I sat here listening to Cream's Cocaine I suddenly felt the urge to update my blog and was drawn to the subject of The Hedge Witch and what that means, so I began to research and came across this description by Rae Beth published in 2005
"Hedge-witchcraft. This is a place of the solitary wise woman or cunning man, we who use natural magic to help and heal. (text omitted here)
Hedge Witchcraft is the natural magic of hedgerow and forest, hilltop and seashore. It can be and is often practised indoors but our contacts with the nature spirits and the Fae and our communion with and respect for the natural world are all important.
This is Green Spirituality of the environment as well as an ancient and effective way to resolve problems.
When it comes to enhancing the quality of our lives it works extremely well but it is not a quick fix necessarily. Rather, it turns our lives into a true magical quest. And you could study Hedge witchcraft for many lifetimes, (perhaps you already have). Yet you could never get to an end of it because it is aligned with life’s cycles of change and growth. However, you can experience its effects and get real results even as a beginner (if you are of the type whose heart lifts when entering realms of natural magic).
We may work in hedgerows or on other boundaries, treating them as symbolic borders between the human everyday world and the domains of elves, nature spirits and other otherworldly presences. In this way we achieve communion with those from more subtle dimensions and can join our magic with theirs, to the benefit of all, creating new harmony.
There is actually nothing new in these ideas. They are based on the work of the ancient Northern European Hagazissa, the 'Hedge-sitter', one who worked on the boundary between the human community and that of spirits to promote a good balance between wild spirit lands (such as a forest). Bad human areas such as the farmland, so that each could be sound and healthy. And it does not take a very bright person to work out the implications for us now at this point in history.
A Hedge Witch's territory is wherever any Hedge Witch happens to be."
A Hedge Witch is not governed by any specific geographical location and there are plenty of places that are inspiring, magical, tranquil which could hold special significance.
Further researching the subject I came across this piece from Suite101.com
"According to the book The Wiccan Path (The Crossing Press, 1990) by Rae Beth, a hedge witch is “…a lone priest or priestess of natural magic, open to requests for healing spells or for advice or divination from the people who live near them.” Other scholars argue that the path of a hedge witch is a nature based neo-pagan religion combining elements of divination, herbal healing and natural magic.
The hedge, or some type of fence or wall, once signified the boundary of ancient villages. As pertains to shamanism this boundary also represents the border which exists between the world of the living and the under-world of spiritual beings. Hence practitioners of this type of magic were often referred to as hedge witches and were thought to be able to talk with spirits in addition to being experts in the use of natural magic and herbal remedies".
Also from Suite101.com
"Hedge witches, also known as the village wise woman or cunning man, were the people habitually accused of practicing black magic and were labeled as being demonic witches and sorcerers. In reality they dispensed a wide variety of herbal remedies to their fellow village inhabitants for healing and magical purposes. Wealthy city and town dwellers had access to the services of formally trained physicians while the poor masses and country dwellers most often had to rely on these local herb men and women for a selection of herb based remedies.
The majority of these natural healers were men and women living solitary lives at a distance from the rest of the village inhabitants. They collected and harvested a variety of plant materials from their personal gardens and the surrounding forests which they used to make a multitude of lotions, ointments and poultices which were used for their healing and magical abilities.
Hedge witches are practitioners of earth-based spirituality and don’t follow any particular path of witchcraft. They employ a variety of herbs and other natural objects in their magical and healing endeavors. They perform magic on an as needed basis and aren’t strict followers of the traditional witches holy days otherwise known as the sabbats."
And so my friends that brings me to the end of this short discourse on Hedge Witches and their craft, I truly hope that it has proved enlightening and a worthwhile read.
Go forth in peace until we meet again
Love, Light and Blessed Be
The Merlin
As I sat here listening to Cream's Cocaine I suddenly felt the urge to update my blog and was drawn to the subject of The Hedge Witch and what that means, so I began to research and came across this description by Rae Beth published in 2005
"Hedge-witchcraft. This is a place of the solitary wise woman or cunning man, we who use natural magic to help and heal. (text omitted here)
Hedge Witchcraft is the natural magic of hedgerow and forest, hilltop and seashore. It can be and is often practised indoors but our contacts with the nature spirits and the Fae and our communion with and respect for the natural world are all important.
This is Green Spirituality of the environment as well as an ancient and effective way to resolve problems.
When it comes to enhancing the quality of our lives it works extremely well but it is not a quick fix necessarily. Rather, it turns our lives into a true magical quest. And you could study Hedge witchcraft for many lifetimes, (perhaps you already have). Yet you could never get to an end of it because it is aligned with life’s cycles of change and growth. However, you can experience its effects and get real results even as a beginner (if you are of the type whose heart lifts when entering realms of natural magic).
We may work in hedgerows or on other boundaries, treating them as symbolic borders between the human everyday world and the domains of elves, nature spirits and other otherworldly presences. In this way we achieve communion with those from more subtle dimensions and can join our magic with theirs, to the benefit of all, creating new harmony.
There is actually nothing new in these ideas. They are based on the work of the ancient Northern European Hagazissa, the 'Hedge-sitter', one who worked on the boundary between the human community and that of spirits to promote a good balance between wild spirit lands (such as a forest). Bad human areas such as the farmland, so that each could be sound and healthy. And it does not take a very bright person to work out the implications for us now at this point in history.
A Hedge Witch's territory is wherever any Hedge Witch happens to be."
A Hedge Witch is not governed by any specific geographical location and there are plenty of places that are inspiring, magical, tranquil which could hold special significance.
Further researching the subject I came across this piece from Suite101.com
"According to the book The Wiccan Path (The Crossing Press, 1990) by Rae Beth, a hedge witch is “…a lone priest or priestess of natural magic, open to requests for healing spells or for advice or divination from the people who live near them.” Other scholars argue that the path of a hedge witch is a nature based neo-pagan religion combining elements of divination, herbal healing and natural magic.
The hedge, or some type of fence or wall, once signified the boundary of ancient villages. As pertains to shamanism this boundary also represents the border which exists between the world of the living and the under-world of spiritual beings. Hence practitioners of this type of magic were often referred to as hedge witches and were thought to be able to talk with spirits in addition to being experts in the use of natural magic and herbal remedies".
Also from Suite101.com
"Hedge witches, also known as the village wise woman or cunning man, were the people habitually accused of practicing black magic and were labeled as being demonic witches and sorcerers. In reality they dispensed a wide variety of herbal remedies to their fellow village inhabitants for healing and magical purposes. Wealthy city and town dwellers had access to the services of formally trained physicians while the poor masses and country dwellers most often had to rely on these local herb men and women for a selection of herb based remedies.
The majority of these natural healers were men and women living solitary lives at a distance from the rest of the village inhabitants. They collected and harvested a variety of plant materials from their personal gardens and the surrounding forests which they used to make a multitude of lotions, ointments and poultices which were used for their healing and magical abilities.
Hedge witches are practitioners of earth-based spirituality and don’t follow any particular path of witchcraft. They employ a variety of herbs and other natural objects in their magical and healing endeavors. They perform magic on an as needed basis and aren’t strict followers of the traditional witches holy days otherwise known as the sabbats."
And so my friends that brings me to the end of this short discourse on Hedge Witches and their craft, I truly hope that it has proved enlightening and a worthwhile read.
Go forth in peace until we meet again
Love, Light and Blessed Be
The Merlin
Friday 10 July 2009
Friday 10th July Musing - Pagan Schoolchildren
Merrie Meet
This musing consists of a repost of a report that discusses Pagan Schoolchildren in the education system.
What is a Pagan student likely to practice and believe?
Because Pagans generally follow a non-creedal, non-dogmatic spirituality, there may be even more variants between Pagan religious beliefs than there are between denominations of Christianity. The most commonly practiced types of Paganism are Wicca, Asatru, Druidry, or simply Paganism, just as a Christian can be Catholic, Presbyterian, or simply Christian. All of these are somewhat different from each other. Because of this, the following statements may not be true for every Pagan you encounter. However, there are some practices that are generally common among Pagans; the student or his parents will tell you if their practices differ significantly from the following:
A Pagan student will celebrate a nature-based, polytheistic religion:
A Pagan student will honor Divinity as both God and Goddess, sometimes with a feminist emphasis on the Goddess. One effect of this is that the student is likely to treat gender equality as an assumption,
A Pagan student will celebrate religious ceremonies with small groups on Full Moons and at the beginning and midpoint of each season, rather than with large congregations or at a set weekly schedule. These celebrations are often called 'rituals' or 'circles', and the congregations called 'covens', 'groves', 'hearths', or 'circles'. Some of the items commonly found on the altar in a Pagan ceremony are statues of the Goddess or God; candles; crystals; wands; the athame, a blunt-edged dagger used as a symbol and not as a tool with which to cut; cups; cauldrons; incense; and a five-pointed star called the pentagram or pentacle.
A Pagan student may wear a symbol of his or her religion as an item of jewelry. The most common symbol is the pentacle, a five-pointed star in a circle. The misconception of the pentagram as a satanic symbol is based upon its inverted use by those groups, in the same manner in which devil-worshippers may use the Christian cross inverted. The meaning of the pentacle as worn by Pagans is rooted in the beliefs of the Greek Pythagoreans, for whom the pentagram embodied perfect balance and wisdom; inserting the star in the circle adds the symbol of eternity and unity. Other jewelry that may be worn includes Celtic knotwork; crosses; triskelions; Thor's hammer; the labrys, a double-headed axe used as a symbol by Greco-Roman worship of Cybele; Goddess figurines; crescent and/or full Moon symbols; the Yin-Yang symbol; or the eye of Horus or horns of Isis from Egyptian mythology.
A Pagan student will view Divinity as immanent in Nature and humanity, and view all things as interconnected. This often leads to a concern with ecology and the environment, and a fascination with the cycle of life.
A Pagan student will believe in magic, and may spell it 'magick' to differentiate it from stage illusions. This may include belief in personal energy fields like the Chinese concept of chi, and may also include the use of rituals and tools to dramatize and focus positive thinking and visualization techniques. It does not mean that the student is taught that he can wiggle his nose to clean his room, summon spirits or demons, or do anything else that breaks natural laws, though if young, like any child, a Pagan child may pretend these things. It also does not mean that the student is taught to hex or curse; in our ethical structure such actions are believed to rebound on the sender, and therefore are proscribed.
A Pagan student may believe in reincarnation. It is the most common eschatological belief held among Pagans, but is not universal. However, a Pagan student is unlikely to believe in either Heaven or Hell; she may believe in the Celtic Summerland, a place of rest between incarnations, or Valhalla, a realm of honor in Norse religions.
A Pagan student may call herself a Witch, a Wiccan, a Pagan or Neo-Pagan, a Goddess-worshipper, a Druid, an Asatruer, or a Heathen. He is unlikely to call himself a Warlock, as that is believed to come from the Scottish word for 'oathbreaker'. And while a Pagan student may or may not be offended by the stereotype, she is likely to quickly inform you that the green-skinned, warty-nosed caricature displayed at Halloween bears no relation to her religion.
Ethics and rules of behavior:
A Pagan student will be taught ethics emphasizing both personal freedom and personal responsibility. Pagan ethics allow personal freedom within a framework of personal responsibility. The primary basis for Pagan ethics is the understanding that everything is interconnected, that nothing exists without affecting others, and that every action has a consequence.
There is no concept of forgiveness for sin in the Pagan ethical system; the consequences of one's actions must be faced and reparations made as necessary against anyone whom you have harmed.
There are no arbitrary rules about moral issues; instead, every action must be weighed against the awareness of what harm it could cause. Thus, for example, consensual homosexuality would be a null issue morally because it harms no one, but cheating would be wrong because it harms one's self, one's intellect, one's integrity, and takes unfair advantage of the person from whom you are cheating.
The most common forms in which these ethics are stated are:
The Wiccan Rede, "An it harm none, do as thou wilt," and
The Threefold Law, "Whatsoever you do returns to you threefold."
Religious plurality:
A Pagan student will hold a paradigm that embraces plurality.
Because Pagan religious systems hold that theirs is a way among many, not the only road to truth, and because Pagans explore a variety of Deities among their pantheons, both male and female, a Pagan student will be brought up in an atmosphere that discourages discrimination based on differences such as race or gender, and encourages individuality, self-discovery and independent thought.
A Pagan student is also likely to be taught comparative religions. Most Pagans are adamant about not forcing their beliefs on the child but rather teaching them many spiritual systems and letting the child decide when he is of age. However, a Pagan student is unlikely to have an emotional concept of Heaven, Hell, or salvation as taught by Christian religions, though he may know about them intellectually. And a Pagan student will be taught to respect the sacred texts of other religions, but is unlikely to believe them literally where they conflict with scientific theory or purport to be the only truth.
Personal interests:
A Pagan student is likely to enjoy reading, science, and helping professions. Margot Adler, National Public Radio journalist, reported the results of a survey of Pagans in the 1989 edition of her book, Drawing Down the Moon. 1 The results showed that the one thing Pagans hold in common despite their differences is a voracious appetite for reading and learning. Pagans also seem to be represented strongly in the computer and health-care fields, so the Pagan child is likely to be computer-literate from an early age.
Conclusions:
Despite their sometimes misunderstood beliefs, earth-based religions have grown steadily throughout the past few decades, and provide a satisfying spirituality to their practitioners. With the current appreciation of diversity and tolerance, more people now understand that different cultural backgrounds bring perspectives that can be valued instead of feared. It is our hope that as a educator this will provide you with the information you need to be able to facilitate understanding.
References:
1. Margot Adler, "Drawing down the moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess worshipers and other Pagans in America today," Penguin USA, (1997) Rated by Amazon.com in the top 3,500 of all books sold
2. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_essa.htm
Love and Light to all and Blessed Be
This musing consists of a repost of a report that discusses Pagan Schoolchildren in the education system.
What is a Pagan student likely to practice and believe?
Because Pagans generally follow a non-creedal, non-dogmatic spirituality, there may be even more variants between Pagan religious beliefs than there are between denominations of Christianity. The most commonly practiced types of Paganism are Wicca, Asatru, Druidry, or simply Paganism, just as a Christian can be Catholic, Presbyterian, or simply Christian. All of these are somewhat different from each other. Because of this, the following statements may not be true for every Pagan you encounter. However, there are some practices that are generally common among Pagans; the student or his parents will tell you if their practices differ significantly from the following:
A Pagan student will celebrate a nature-based, polytheistic religion:
A Pagan student will honor Divinity as both God and Goddess, sometimes with a feminist emphasis on the Goddess. One effect of this is that the student is likely to treat gender equality as an assumption,
A Pagan student will celebrate religious ceremonies with small groups on Full Moons and at the beginning and midpoint of each season, rather than with large congregations or at a set weekly schedule. These celebrations are often called 'rituals' or 'circles', and the congregations called 'covens', 'groves', 'hearths', or 'circles'. Some of the items commonly found on the altar in a Pagan ceremony are statues of the Goddess or God; candles; crystals; wands; the athame, a blunt-edged dagger used as a symbol and not as a tool with which to cut; cups; cauldrons; incense; and a five-pointed star called the pentagram or pentacle.
A Pagan student may wear a symbol of his or her religion as an item of jewelry. The most common symbol is the pentacle, a five-pointed star in a circle. The misconception of the pentagram as a satanic symbol is based upon its inverted use by those groups, in the same manner in which devil-worshippers may use the Christian cross inverted. The meaning of the pentacle as worn by Pagans is rooted in the beliefs of the Greek Pythagoreans, for whom the pentagram embodied perfect balance and wisdom; inserting the star in the circle adds the symbol of eternity and unity. Other jewelry that may be worn includes Celtic knotwork; crosses; triskelions; Thor's hammer; the labrys, a double-headed axe used as a symbol by Greco-Roman worship of Cybele; Goddess figurines; crescent and/or full Moon symbols; the Yin-Yang symbol; or the eye of Horus or horns of Isis from Egyptian mythology.
A Pagan student will view Divinity as immanent in Nature and humanity, and view all things as interconnected. This often leads to a concern with ecology and the environment, and a fascination with the cycle of life.
A Pagan student will believe in magic, and may spell it 'magick' to differentiate it from stage illusions. This may include belief in personal energy fields like the Chinese concept of chi, and may also include the use of rituals and tools to dramatize and focus positive thinking and visualization techniques. It does not mean that the student is taught that he can wiggle his nose to clean his room, summon spirits or demons, or do anything else that breaks natural laws, though if young, like any child, a Pagan child may pretend these things. It also does not mean that the student is taught to hex or curse; in our ethical structure such actions are believed to rebound on the sender, and therefore are proscribed.
A Pagan student may believe in reincarnation. It is the most common eschatological belief held among Pagans, but is not universal. However, a Pagan student is unlikely to believe in either Heaven or Hell; she may believe in the Celtic Summerland, a place of rest between incarnations, or Valhalla, a realm of honor in Norse religions.
A Pagan student may call herself a Witch, a Wiccan, a Pagan or Neo-Pagan, a Goddess-worshipper, a Druid, an Asatruer, or a Heathen. He is unlikely to call himself a Warlock, as that is believed to come from the Scottish word for 'oathbreaker'. And while a Pagan student may or may not be offended by the stereotype, she is likely to quickly inform you that the green-skinned, warty-nosed caricature displayed at Halloween bears no relation to her religion.
Ethics and rules of behavior:
A Pagan student will be taught ethics emphasizing both personal freedom and personal responsibility. Pagan ethics allow personal freedom within a framework of personal responsibility. The primary basis for Pagan ethics is the understanding that everything is interconnected, that nothing exists without affecting others, and that every action has a consequence.
There is no concept of forgiveness for sin in the Pagan ethical system; the consequences of one's actions must be faced and reparations made as necessary against anyone whom you have harmed.
There are no arbitrary rules about moral issues; instead, every action must be weighed against the awareness of what harm it could cause. Thus, for example, consensual homosexuality would be a null issue morally because it harms no one, but cheating would be wrong because it harms one's self, one's intellect, one's integrity, and takes unfair advantage of the person from whom you are cheating.
The most common forms in which these ethics are stated are:
The Wiccan Rede, "An it harm none, do as thou wilt," and
The Threefold Law, "Whatsoever you do returns to you threefold."
Religious plurality:
A Pagan student will hold a paradigm that embraces plurality.
Because Pagan religious systems hold that theirs is a way among many, not the only road to truth, and because Pagans explore a variety of Deities among their pantheons, both male and female, a Pagan student will be brought up in an atmosphere that discourages discrimination based on differences such as race or gender, and encourages individuality, self-discovery and independent thought.
A Pagan student is also likely to be taught comparative religions. Most Pagans are adamant about not forcing their beliefs on the child but rather teaching them many spiritual systems and letting the child decide when he is of age. However, a Pagan student is unlikely to have an emotional concept of Heaven, Hell, or salvation as taught by Christian religions, though he may know about them intellectually. And a Pagan student will be taught to respect the sacred texts of other religions, but is unlikely to believe them literally where they conflict with scientific theory or purport to be the only truth.
Personal interests:
A Pagan student is likely to enjoy reading, science, and helping professions. Margot Adler, National Public Radio journalist, reported the results of a survey of Pagans in the 1989 edition of her book, Drawing Down the Moon. 1 The results showed that the one thing Pagans hold in common despite their differences is a voracious appetite for reading and learning. Pagans also seem to be represented strongly in the computer and health-care fields, so the Pagan child is likely to be computer-literate from an early age.
Conclusions:
Despite their sometimes misunderstood beliefs, earth-based religions have grown steadily throughout the past few decades, and provide a satisfying spirituality to their practitioners. With the current appreciation of diversity and tolerance, more people now understand that different cultural backgrounds bring perspectives that can be valued instead of feared. It is our hope that as a educator this will provide you with the information you need to be able to facilitate understanding.
References:
1. Margot Adler, "Drawing down the moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess worshipers and other Pagans in America today," Penguin USA, (1997) Rated by Amazon.com in the top 3,500 of all books sold
2. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_essa.htm
Love and Light to all and Blessed Be
Friday 3 July 2009
Not really a musing but something that may interest
Dave was born in 1953
In 1964 Dave became involved with Wigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society and over the nest few years gained such knowledge of G+S work that he soon joined the D´oyly Carte Society and during 1968 Dave assisted in his school´s productions of G+S works, both in full performance and concert versions.
At this time (aged 15) Dave was also studying music with the London College of Music, playing in his first band, "The Theorems" and had begun writing music and in collaboration with a friend penned a tuneful little ditty entitled "Shirley" that was accepted and published by Belsize Music.
Dave was responsible for recruiting the people that reformed the Lymm Grammar School Folk Club that had sadly fallen apart when Stu and Wendy Lever left the school. He negotiated with the head of school to allow rehearsals to take place in the cellars underneath the old wing and to encourage music as an active after school activity. He was instrumental in arranging a series of live "gigs" at the school during lunch hours and this series began with the appearance of Dave´s new band "The Future"
In the late 60s and early 70s Dave continued to write music / lyrics with Keith Dutton and was invited to travel to Germany with "The Future".
During the next few years Dave gave up formal music training having attained First Class passes up to Grade 6 LCM in both theory and practice, and began to concentrate more on his writing, in 1974 he moved to Bristol and got married to Alison.
Financially, things were very difficult and Dave picked up some work as a solo musician, but was forced into paid employment just to make ends meet.
Circumstances meant that in 1976 Dave and his wife and new baby ended up back in Cheshire, and as a result of "responsibility" he took a job, and then another and a 3rd but all the time hankering after getting back into Entertainment.
From 1989 Dave began to study all aspects of personal development and in 1990 had begun the early foundation work for what was to become his first album "Somerset Story" A relaxing musical journey into the land of legend.
1991 saw Dave being asked to join a new band called "Inspiration" as keyboard player and in 1992 Dave enjoyed his first ever visit into a recording studio. The result of this session was a 3-track demo of material he had co-written with fellow keyboard player Alan Brown. Rhian, How Can I Make Him Love Me? and Freedom.
When Inspiration split some 12 months later Dave and Alan continued to work together and eventually formed a new band "Highlife" more studio work followed and "Highlife" were engaged as function band for Bass Charrington Retail, performing at pubs and hotels throughout the North West of England. London Records expressed considerable interest in "Highlife" and were making noises about contracts, single releases, album deals etc. when Dave broke his shoulder in a rather horrendous accident.
As a result of this accident the proposed deal with London Records evaporated along with the band, so Dave decided that the die had been cast, he was now a musician first and a wage earner second.
Following several meetings he was engaged as the Musical Director of The Spotlight Theatre Company and was with them for productions of Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors and at least 2 concerts.
He met a studio owner called Steve Paine (keyboard player with Legend) and was recruited to work with them as a free lance producer, and in return Steve, Jon (engineer) and Dave went to work on the initial set of recordings for “Somerset Story”.
Dave also became involved in setting up the Halton Borough Council´s Musician´s Co-operative Initiative. This entailed securing Arts Council Funding to create a performance venue for the young musicians of Halton, drafting plans for the first Halton Show, a showcase for unsigned acts that culminated some 3 years later with what was then the biggest open-air gig the area had seen "The Stone Roses"
Dave also began his first attempts at broadcasting and joined the crew of the Halton FM local radio station, first as an interviewee and then as a presenter, .alongside LIPA’s Dave Pitchilingi.
Eventually Dave changed the location for the recordings of “Somerset Story” to Frog Recording in Warrington, and the whole album was then completed as a collaboration between Dave and 10cc´s travelling keyboard player Steve Millington. Steve has been responsible for the production of many high charting singles including Rick Astley, Peter Kay and many albums commissioned by Sony Music. It was during one of these sessions that Dave and Steve were invited to play keyboards on a track, being recorded in another of Steve´s studios, by OMD.
Once the album was complete Steve Paine offered to release it in the USA, through his label Pagan Media, the deal was done and Dave moved on to the next project.
He recorded an album with Kerry Stockdale (Kerry Stockdale Sings) that resulted in bookings for Kerry and Dave at the invitation of the Mayor of Vale Royal. He also worked with male vocalist Paul Cain on the production of a successful entry into "A Star Is Born" held at Winsford Civic Hall, and the pair were to gain an entry into the finals held at the Northwich Memorial Theatre.
At this time several other bands were seeking management / production guidance from Dave and he created a management stable that included working bands Stockdale, Fish King Lizard, during which time Steve Paine and Dave worked on the production of Legend´s second album "Second Sight"
When Dave and family moved to Devon in 1995 he decided to re-brand his business and take on a partner and this saw the Westworld Artist Management identity being created. Together with business partner Anne Longton, they signed Retrovibe, John Sharp, 3 Piece Beat and The Blue Kats. Westworld were also interested in signing Little America but that deal fell over.
Dave met a local musician / sound engineer called Derek Woodcock and this began Dave’s association with the Ariel Studio, Ilfracombe as a recording base. In 1996 Dave met Tom Armstrong and the two formed the basis of what was to become a long-standing friendship and professional association.
During a tour with Retrovibe, Dave met Chris Horrell, one of the founding partners of S+H Technical Support Ltd. S+H were good enough to loan Dave a lighting rig and backdrop for the tour and when Retrovibe were selected to tour with The Commitments, S+H again offered their support in the form of a starcloth and other items of equipment.
In 1998 Dave had, at the request of Chris Horrell, joined S+H as a member of the team and over the years that followed he and Chris worked on several joint projects including a performance of the Spice Girls at Grosvenor House, the Variety Club Awards (which saw Dave being interviewed on TV with David Essex), Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett (in an outdoor setting), Pentangle, Ralph McTell and a Grand Party at the Showman´s Show in Newbury featuring The Classic Years and Tom Armstrong.
During 1999 Dave joined Tarka Radio as the presenter of the late show "Merlin´s Magic" and had begun to spend more time working on projects that included both himself and Tom, The Allstars Academy of Performing Arts and The Tom Armstrong´s All Stars theatre shows to name but two.
He also worked on a charity show for the children of Kosovo as Executive Producer that saw him taking the stage with Rosemary Squires, Jimmy Cricket, The Korgis, Jenny Hanley (TV presenter) and Vicki Michelle (´allo ´allo) together with comperes Ian Brass (Radio Devon) and Seth Conway from Carlton Westcountry television.
Since 2000 Dave has composed and released further relaxation albums and for almost 3 years he was the songwriter / arranger for Skoolchix and Lost Angels, and has recorded albums with The Blue Kats, Anne Longton.
During 2001 Dave was able to secure an instrumental recording of Nessun Dorma by a highly respected Italian Orchestra and together with Lee Crossman produced “This Is My Moment” winner John Easton’s vocal recording of this epic piece of music.
From 2002 until April 2008 performed with North Devon band "Ad Lib" as percussionist, keyboard player and vocalist. Dave began work with Tom on a new album of acoustic material in 2007 and it is planned to complete that album in 2009.
2004 saw Dave appear on TV for the second time in his career, this time he was booked to appear as an extra in the Channel 4 docu-drama Hitler of The Andes.
During 2007 at the Total Production Awards Dave was able to meet and have a conversation with one of the fathers of the British music scene, the Beatles producer George Martin thus realising a major personal ambition.
2008 was the beginning of a new project with Tom Armstrong, the production of a stage musical telling the life story of the musical greats of modern music, and the foundation of the Altered Image Music Schooling for Bulgaria project
His latest solo album "Mystic Pathways" was first released during the summer of 2004 and the 2008 revised and remixed version has a fantastic cover designed by visionary artist Peter Pracownik
2009 and work has begun towards a return to broadcasting with establishing plans for the formation of an internet radio station Coaching Radio. Dave has recorded several voice-overs, the latest of which is a series of adverts for Bar Ice, Samui the world’s first tropical island ice bar.
THE FUTURE- apart from the launch of Coaching Radio – Dave has now trained as a Life Coach and is working with Tom Armstrong on revisiting the idea that we had with All Stars but focusing on performance and performance coaching.Dave would also like the opportunity to do more recording, more tv and radio work and to expand his growing voice-over business.
DISCOGRAPHY
Freedom EP (Inspiration)
Highlife EP (Highlife)
Somerset Story (A Musical Journey Into Legend)
Healing Steps
Mystic Pathways
Kerry Stockdale Sings (Kerry Stockdale)
Themselves (Skoolchix)
Funny Old Kind Of Life (The Blue Kats)
Anne Longton - The Studio Sessions (Anne Longton)
Guest appearances · Cyclomenic Fields (Retrovibe)
Love Light and Blessed Be
In 1964 Dave became involved with Wigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society and over the nest few years gained such knowledge of G+S work that he soon joined the D´oyly Carte Society and during 1968 Dave assisted in his school´s productions of G+S works, both in full performance and concert versions.
At this time (aged 15) Dave was also studying music with the London College of Music, playing in his first band, "The Theorems" and had begun writing music and in collaboration with a friend penned a tuneful little ditty entitled "Shirley" that was accepted and published by Belsize Music.
Dave was responsible for recruiting the people that reformed the Lymm Grammar School Folk Club that had sadly fallen apart when Stu and Wendy Lever left the school. He negotiated with the head of school to allow rehearsals to take place in the cellars underneath the old wing and to encourage music as an active after school activity. He was instrumental in arranging a series of live "gigs" at the school during lunch hours and this series began with the appearance of Dave´s new band "The Future"
In the late 60s and early 70s Dave continued to write music / lyrics with Keith Dutton and was invited to travel to Germany with "The Future".
During the next few years Dave gave up formal music training having attained First Class passes up to Grade 6 LCM in both theory and practice, and began to concentrate more on his writing, in 1974 he moved to Bristol and got married to Alison.
Financially, things were very difficult and Dave picked up some work as a solo musician, but was forced into paid employment just to make ends meet.
Circumstances meant that in 1976 Dave and his wife and new baby ended up back in Cheshire, and as a result of "responsibility" he took a job, and then another and a 3rd but all the time hankering after getting back into Entertainment.
From 1989 Dave began to study all aspects of personal development and in 1990 had begun the early foundation work for what was to become his first album "Somerset Story" A relaxing musical journey into the land of legend.
1991 saw Dave being asked to join a new band called "Inspiration" as keyboard player and in 1992 Dave enjoyed his first ever visit into a recording studio. The result of this session was a 3-track demo of material he had co-written with fellow keyboard player Alan Brown. Rhian, How Can I Make Him Love Me? and Freedom.
When Inspiration split some 12 months later Dave and Alan continued to work together and eventually formed a new band "Highlife" more studio work followed and "Highlife" were engaged as function band for Bass Charrington Retail, performing at pubs and hotels throughout the North West of England. London Records expressed considerable interest in "Highlife" and were making noises about contracts, single releases, album deals etc. when Dave broke his shoulder in a rather horrendous accident.
As a result of this accident the proposed deal with London Records evaporated along with the band, so Dave decided that the die had been cast, he was now a musician first and a wage earner second.
Following several meetings he was engaged as the Musical Director of The Spotlight Theatre Company and was with them for productions of Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors and at least 2 concerts.
He met a studio owner called Steve Paine (keyboard player with Legend) and was recruited to work with them as a free lance producer, and in return Steve, Jon (engineer) and Dave went to work on the initial set of recordings for “Somerset Story”.
Dave also became involved in setting up the Halton Borough Council´s Musician´s Co-operative Initiative. This entailed securing Arts Council Funding to create a performance venue for the young musicians of Halton, drafting plans for the first Halton Show, a showcase for unsigned acts that culminated some 3 years later with what was then the biggest open-air gig the area had seen "The Stone Roses"
Dave also began his first attempts at broadcasting and joined the crew of the Halton FM local radio station, first as an interviewee and then as a presenter, .alongside LIPA’s Dave Pitchilingi.
Eventually Dave changed the location for the recordings of “Somerset Story” to Frog Recording in Warrington, and the whole album was then completed as a collaboration between Dave and 10cc´s travelling keyboard player Steve Millington. Steve has been responsible for the production of many high charting singles including Rick Astley, Peter Kay and many albums commissioned by Sony Music. It was during one of these sessions that Dave and Steve were invited to play keyboards on a track, being recorded in another of Steve´s studios, by OMD.
Once the album was complete Steve Paine offered to release it in the USA, through his label Pagan Media, the deal was done and Dave moved on to the next project.
He recorded an album with Kerry Stockdale (Kerry Stockdale Sings) that resulted in bookings for Kerry and Dave at the invitation of the Mayor of Vale Royal. He also worked with male vocalist Paul Cain on the production of a successful entry into "A Star Is Born" held at Winsford Civic Hall, and the pair were to gain an entry into the finals held at the Northwich Memorial Theatre.
At this time several other bands were seeking management / production guidance from Dave and he created a management stable that included working bands Stockdale, Fish King Lizard, during which time Steve Paine and Dave worked on the production of Legend´s second album "Second Sight"
When Dave and family moved to Devon in 1995 he decided to re-brand his business and take on a partner and this saw the Westworld Artist Management identity being created. Together with business partner Anne Longton, they signed Retrovibe, John Sharp, 3 Piece Beat and The Blue Kats. Westworld were also interested in signing Little America but that deal fell over.
Dave met a local musician / sound engineer called Derek Woodcock and this began Dave’s association with the Ariel Studio, Ilfracombe as a recording base. In 1996 Dave met Tom Armstrong and the two formed the basis of what was to become a long-standing friendship and professional association.
During a tour with Retrovibe, Dave met Chris Horrell, one of the founding partners of S+H Technical Support Ltd. S+H were good enough to loan Dave a lighting rig and backdrop for the tour and when Retrovibe were selected to tour with The Commitments, S+H again offered their support in the form of a starcloth and other items of equipment.
In 1998 Dave had, at the request of Chris Horrell, joined S+H as a member of the team and over the years that followed he and Chris worked on several joint projects including a performance of the Spice Girls at Grosvenor House, the Variety Club Awards (which saw Dave being interviewed on TV with David Essex), Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett (in an outdoor setting), Pentangle, Ralph McTell and a Grand Party at the Showman´s Show in Newbury featuring The Classic Years and Tom Armstrong.
During 1999 Dave joined Tarka Radio as the presenter of the late show "Merlin´s Magic" and had begun to spend more time working on projects that included both himself and Tom, The Allstars Academy of Performing Arts and The Tom Armstrong´s All Stars theatre shows to name but two.
He also worked on a charity show for the children of Kosovo as Executive Producer that saw him taking the stage with Rosemary Squires, Jimmy Cricket, The Korgis, Jenny Hanley (TV presenter) and Vicki Michelle (´allo ´allo) together with comperes Ian Brass (Radio Devon) and Seth Conway from Carlton Westcountry television.
Since 2000 Dave has composed and released further relaxation albums and for almost 3 years he was the songwriter / arranger for Skoolchix and Lost Angels, and has recorded albums with The Blue Kats, Anne Longton.
During 2001 Dave was able to secure an instrumental recording of Nessun Dorma by a highly respected Italian Orchestra and together with Lee Crossman produced “This Is My Moment” winner John Easton’s vocal recording of this epic piece of music.
From 2002 until April 2008 performed with North Devon band "Ad Lib" as percussionist, keyboard player and vocalist. Dave began work with Tom on a new album of acoustic material in 2007 and it is planned to complete that album in 2009.
2004 saw Dave appear on TV for the second time in his career, this time he was booked to appear as an extra in the Channel 4 docu-drama Hitler of The Andes.
During 2007 at the Total Production Awards Dave was able to meet and have a conversation with one of the fathers of the British music scene, the Beatles producer George Martin thus realising a major personal ambition.
2008 was the beginning of a new project with Tom Armstrong, the production of a stage musical telling the life story of the musical greats of modern music, and the foundation of the Altered Image Music Schooling for Bulgaria project
His latest solo album "Mystic Pathways" was first released during the summer of 2004 and the 2008 revised and remixed version has a fantastic cover designed by visionary artist Peter Pracownik
2009 and work has begun towards a return to broadcasting with establishing plans for the formation of an internet radio station Coaching Radio. Dave has recorded several voice-overs, the latest of which is a series of adverts for Bar Ice, Samui the world’s first tropical island ice bar.
THE FUTURE- apart from the launch of Coaching Radio – Dave has now trained as a Life Coach and is working with Tom Armstrong on revisiting the idea that we had with All Stars but focusing on performance and performance coaching.Dave would also like the opportunity to do more recording, more tv and radio work and to expand his growing voice-over business.
DISCOGRAPHY
Freedom EP (Inspiration)
Highlife EP (Highlife)
Somerset Story (A Musical Journey Into Legend)
Healing Steps
Mystic Pathways
Kerry Stockdale Sings (Kerry Stockdale)
Themselves (Skoolchix)
Funny Old Kind Of Life (The Blue Kats)
Anne Longton - The Studio Sessions (Anne Longton)
Guest appearances · Cyclomenic Fields (Retrovibe)
Love Light and Blessed Be
Thursday 2 July 2009
Thursday 2nd July Musing
I could go into lots of stuff about the state of the economy, downturns in business blah blah blah, and continually bemoaning the state of the nation BUT since that is not in my nature, I will leave it to the people who are experts at it and talk to you about things that I find way more interesting.
I have been looking at a couple of pagan websites recently and during my ramble through these leafy lanes I was searching for a blessing that I can use for a wedding tomorrow. Whilst the happy couple are doing the formal stuff tomorrow, they have already said that they would like a handfasting for their first anniversary, hence why I need to find a blessing.
Ok it is now Friday and whilst searching for a blessing for today's wedding I fell over this un credited article that i found interesting and thought it worth sharing on here.
Acknowledgements to the author of this work - whoever he or she may be.
I am working towards spending a weekend in either Tintagel or Glastonbury in 2 weeks time. This will be a time of inner jouneys, spiritual communion and immersion in the act of just being and doing whatever happens.
I will speak more of this in next week's posting.
Until the next time all that now remains is for me to wish you all
Love, Light and Blessed Be
I have been looking at a couple of pagan websites recently and during my ramble through these leafy lanes I was searching for a blessing that I can use for a wedding tomorrow. Whilst the happy couple are doing the formal stuff tomorrow, they have already said that they would like a handfasting for their first anniversary, hence why I need to find a blessing.
Ok it is now Friday and whilst searching for a blessing for today's wedding I fell over this un credited article that i found interesting and thought it worth sharing on here.
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| What is the fastest, smartest and most reliable way between your wildest dreams and your tangible reality? …Your Intention… Never underestimate the power of your Intention. It represents the most powerful tool in your life manifestation box. Why…because that…my friend… is pure Energy! It is the divine creative Force behind all cosmic, universal and human designs. Let’s consider the two parameters its efficiency relies on… The first one is: establishing a purpose, which I call “the doing” and the second one is the intensity, which I call the “being” element. The doing is necessary for it gives the direction. It affects the trajectory of the creative Energy. The practical question is: what do you wish to achieve? The more precise your answer is going to be and the greater the path will unfold in front of you. Each stone that will be placed ahead will be part of a meaningful trail that will match your expectations. You will attract the perfect fitted piece to your journey. The second element, not the least, is the intensity. This is the focus you actually can drawn into your thoughts. The greater concentration, passion and amount of energy you will be able to surround to your intention and the greater and faster the result will appear. Coincidences won’t be coincidences but messages and divine signs that will automatically make sense. The practical question is: How much do you want this dream to come true? To be part of your reality? To be fully experienced?.… You need to engage your entire being into this process. The understanding of who you are is the key. Be aware of your thoughts, your choices, your decisions, your beliefs and more so your power… Remember that your reality always matches the way you perceive the world outside. And remember that the way you perceive the world outside always matches the way you perceive your…Self. |
Acknowledgements to the author of this work - whoever he or she may be.
I am working towards spending a weekend in either Tintagel or Glastonbury in 2 weeks time. This will be a time of inner jouneys, spiritual communion and immersion in the act of just being and doing whatever happens.
I will speak more of this in next week's posting.
Until the next time all that now remains is for me to wish you all
Love, Light and Blessed Be
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